title: Vasculitis in the seriously ill patient: diagnostic approaches and therapeutic options in ANCA-associated vasculitis.
abstract: The clinical severity of ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV) ranges widely from relatively benign courses to rapidly progressive, acutely life-threatening disease. The aggressiveness in the individual patient depends on the site and size of vessels involved and on the severity of the associated inflammatory/immunological features. The scope of life-threatening lesions reaches from the well-known pulmonary renal syndrome to cardiac, gastrointestinal and central nervous system manifestations. Treatment must be instituted as soon as possible and consists of daily cyclophosphamide and high-dose glucocorticosteroids. Plasmapheresis, intravenous immunoglobulin, and monoclonal antibodies may be of benefit in some cases.
authors.affiliation: Poliklinik für Rheumatologie, Medizinische Universität Lübeck und Rheumaklinik Bad Bramstedt, Germany.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Gross
mesh_terms: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D001167:Arteritis / Q000628:therapy; D015267:Churg-Strauss Syndrome / Q000628:therapy; D016638:Critical Illness; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic